Biometrics initiative for pensioners to be introduced in Pakistan

In an effort to ensure transparency and better manage beneficiary payments to old-age pensioners and Benazir Income Support (BISP) recipients, the Pakistan Post Office will be introducing a biometrics verification system.

Currently, BISP beneficiaries and pensioners wait in long queues for their benefits and can be susceptible to fraud or theft from criminals who pretend to help, according to a report in Nida-E-Nau.

The first phase of the initiative will see the Pakistan Post launch a biometrics verification system that would deliver money to recipients at their homes after successful thumbprint verification. The report said: ”The posts agent would reach their homes and would provide the BISP and pension money after verification through biometrics system.”

In a second phase, the Post Office will launch an ATM network through which pension and money orders could be received.

Last month, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan completed testing of a new biometric verification system from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).